In a striking scene outside Paris’s iconic Louvre Museum this week, police vans stood as a testament to intensified efforts following a daring jewel theft. French authorities have now announced the arrest of five more individuals implicated in the stunning heist, bringing the total number of suspects detained to seven. Among those apprehended is a suspect directly linked to the crime scene, according to the prosecutor leading the investigation.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that DNA evidence directly linked one of the newly arrested suspects to the scene of the crime. The other four individuals, she noted, are considered crucial to understanding the full scope and execution of the brazen theft.
These latest arrests took place Wednesday evening during coordinated operations across the greater Paris region. Despite this progress, Ms. Beccuau emphasized that the stolen jewels themselves have not yet been located.
More than a week has passed since two thieves sensationally breached the Louvre, utilizing disc grinders to slice through a window of the second-floor Apollo Gallery. There, they pilfered a selection of France’s crown jewels, estimated to be worth over $100 million, before making their getaway on powerful motor scooters with the aid of two accomplices.
Earlier in the investigation, two other suspects were apprehended four days prior, with one caught at Charles de Gaulle airport while allegedly attempting to flee to Algeria. These two individuals now face charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. Prosecutors allege they operated a truck-mounted electric ladder to access the gallery’s balcony from the street, subsequently cutting into the display cases, and then facilitating the escape on scooters.
Ms. Beccuau detailed the intensive efforts of the approximately 100 investigators assigned to the case, employing a wide array of techniques to trace the culprits. It’s noted that the thieves managed to escape mere seconds before police and security personnel reached the scene.
“Our investigation systematically began with collecting DNA traces and fingerprints from the crime scene,” Ms. Beccuau explained. “This was followed by extensive video surveillance analysis and examination of their mobile phones. As new objects are discovered during searches, piece by piece, the entire puzzle of this intricate case is coming together, narrowing the focus on all those involved.”
Ségolène Le Stradic also contributed to this report from Paris.